A patent the company filed recently suggests the Nintendo Switch 2 will use some form of upscaling, although it’s still uncertain how the tech will work.
Nintendo Switch 2 Might Have Image Upscaling
Last week, Nintendo filed a patent for the Nintendo Switch 2 which shows some very interesting features of the upcoming console. One notable characteristic that was spotted by fans is that the device will most likely use AI upscaling, which would be a major upgrade for the company’s hardware.
As brought to the public’s attention by game journalist Mike Odyssey on Twitter, the patent which was filed on Match 13, shows Nintendo would implement this tech to improve visual quality in handheld mode without affecting performance. The Nintendo Switch 2 will be able to upscale images from 540p to 1080p, allegedly without negatively impacting performance.
Since upscaling is already implemented in games like Tears of the Kingdom and Splatoon 3, it’s logical for the Switch 2 to take this further with more advanced AI technology. Additionally, this technology could transform backward compatibility. If executed well, the new system might be able to enhance older Switch games visually, without the need for re-releases or patches.
How Will Upscaling Work?
While details are still being speculated, the patent shows the Nintendo Switch 2 will use some kind of AI, as we mentioned. The patent suggests that games could receive automatic resolution upgrades without requiring updates from developers. However, it’s still uncertain whether all Switch games will benefit from this upscaling automatically, or if developers will need to adjust their games to fully take advantage of it.
This also raises the question if Nintendo is going to use Nvidia’s DLSS technology or develop a proprietary upscaling solution. Previously, both companies have collaborated and there are some rumors the Nintendo Switch 2 will feature Nvidia hardware. Maybe this could also extend to software and AI integration as well.
However, Nintendo might decide to produce its own version of AI upscaling, just like Sony did with PlayStation Super Sampling (PSSR) for the PS5 Pro. The patent doesn’t explicitly mention DLSS, but its matrix-based upscaling method is similar to Nvidia’s AI-powered techniques. Some analysts believe that the Switch 2 may not support the latest DLSS or FSR due to hardware constraints, but it could feature a version optimized for handheld gaming.
Many more questions remain to be answered, which will likely happen as Nintendo reveals more information about the console during the year. If you want to know more about the Nintendo Switch 2, check out this article where we talk about the stats of the device, based on what else people have noticed in the filed patents.
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